H.U.R.T
Freeing Me.

"I don't remember, I wasn't your type."

"From today, you're my type. You're mine."

Lexi blinked repeatedly, repeating Steve's statement in her mind. The finger of the man touching his face made his consciousness return. Lexi held Steve's hand, stopped his movement. Slowly he got out of Steve's body, sitting stiff.

"Maybe I'm your type today. But to this day you're not my type."

Steve reflexes sitting. It was unexpected for the response Lexi gave. Is he rejected. Hey, didn't Lexi say that Lexi was interested in Steve, too?

"I'm rejected?" Trying to keep looking relaxed even though the heart is not calm. Never before has he been rejected by a woman.

Lexi nodded her head.

"A few minutes ago you said you were interested in me."

"Just being interested isn't enough to make me a relationship."

"You like me?"

"I also like Layla."

"Who's Layla?" Steve was confused. He did not understand why there should be another name appearing in the middle of his declaration of love. Layla sounds like a woman's name. It's highly unlikely that Lexi will suffer any irregularities. "Sounds like a woman's name," there is anxiety that makes it uncomfortable. The silly thoughts began to approach. Lexi could have experienced a deviation because of a love story that never went smoothly.

Maybe Steven Percy left such a deep wound. Say it in the heart. For a moment he forgot Steven Percy was himself.

"No. Layla is a lion. L like it. But that doesn't mean I have to be in a relationship with him."

Steve chokes. Lion boy? Heh? Did Lexi just liken herself to an animal? To be clear, Lexi could not possibly be in a relationship with a lion and who gave the name Layla so sweet to a male lion?!

"I like you. I'm pounding next to you. But I can't be in a relationship with you. It must be really bad to be rejected, right?"

Silly, Steve nodded his head. Yeah, Lexi's refusal made her uncomfortable. The first time in his life asking someone to be his lover and for the first thing, he got a rejection. It slightly hurt his pride, but it also made him even more challenged. Is there anyone else or is Lexi still locked up with her own feelings for Steven Percy?

"I'm sorry for that" Lexi's face looked regretful. Not a dream that is intentionally made up. "I know what it's like to be rejected."

He must be talking about Steven Percy.

"If you know what it's like, you shouldn't have turned me down."

"You'll get hurt even more if I accept you. I can't believe you have feelings for me. Actually, this is not your problem. If your feelings are sincere, I'm not sure I can hold you back."

"You're too complicated. You won't know if I'll survive it or not if we haven't lived it."

Lexi was tempted to try. But compared to the temptation to try, her insecurities are far greater than the temptation.

"Here," Lexi held her chest. "There is the name of another man who still lives there. Do you know, if we women can't forget men as fast as men forget us."

Steve wails. Unmistakably, this denial had something to do with himself. Very strange actually, being rejected because of another version of yourself.

Now I am competing with myself. Jesus, there's nothing left of me from Steven Percy's version. Why is this girl so stupid!

"We love beyond limits, I'm powerless" he said. Steve was speechless, all he could do was look at the girl's sad face. Is that how it feels to Steve who he considers dead?

"Isn't your boyfriend dead."

Lexi looked quickly. The girl's gaze was sharp and unsheathed. "How do you know if the man I'm talking about is dead?"

Steve missteps, he is too rash and does not like Lexi's rejection to make him lose focus.

"Oh," Lexi muttered as unsure as Steve. "Because we've already discussed this, so I'll just be frank. Yes, even though he's gone, he never looked at me until he was gone forever. It does not reduce my feelings for her. Ridiculous, right?" Lexi smiled bitterly.

"You're very sincere if so. Is that guy so great that you still have feelings for him to this day?" Steve was really curious what he looked like in Lexi's eyes all along.

"Great? Yeah, he's really great. Smart and handsome with framed glasses perched on his nose. Her hair was always neatly combed. The smell of her body was very good even though she never wore perfume. She's very talkative, but I really like it when she looks at me even though I don't dare to stare at her for long." Lexi's eyes were so sparkling as if Steven Percy was in front of her. A charming thin smile was etched beautifully on her sad face. There was a deep yearning in every word that came out of his mouth. Her lips quivered from being too excited about her man.

"How do you know if it smells good. Didn't you say he refused to look at you."

"Hmm," Lexi nodded quickly. "But I'm always looking for an excuse to have him look at me. He was not one who could refuse someone's request. I always borrowed his notebook and invited him to come home to teach me."

"He's ready?"

"Yes, as long as we meet outside. He doesn't want me to come to my house. But I like it, we look like we're dating. He doesn't have a car and can't drive a car."

"So you and him were forced to take the bus?"

"How did you know?" Lexi tilted her head again, looking towards him.

Since I was that man, Steve whispered inwardly.

"I'm just guessing."

Lexi smiled, "Yes, that's why I said we were dating. We took a crowded bus. We don't want our bodies clinging to each other." Lexi subconsciously held onto both of her blushing cheeks recalling the moment. Steve lowered his head, unable to see what lay before him. Is there anything more sincere than this woman?

"Can't you forget it?"

"If I could." Lexi took a deep breath. "That's our privilege women. Loving for so long, even if that hope is gone, is gone. We love without limits, love even if we're not an option."

"This sounds so sad."

"Yes, you're right." Lexi did not feel offended at all for the man's fierce statement. "But that way, I feel more alive. I feel love, heartache, rejection and memories so sweet. All of this makes me more alive."

"Not the contrary? Feel like you want to die?"

Lexi smiled, "Dead is the end of everything, Mr. Ivarez. You won't feel anything anymore. And that's how he feels. Tired of everything. And choose to leave forever."

"Forgot him and start with me."

Lexi shook her head, "I can't involve anyone else getting stuck with my feelings that I still can't let go of completely."

"I don't mind."

"But I mind."

"Lexy..." Steve didn't know what else to say. It was like he threw a fist to vent the tightness in his heart.

"I think you must have been very hungry because you had to go back and forth to the toilet. I'll make food." Lexi's standing up. He needs to calm down, his eyes also start to sting with sadness every time he talks about Steven Percy.

Steve held his hand, forcing the girl back to sit down. "There's no need to hide your cries from me. Just blur. I'll shut up, won't talk nor will I mock you." Steve took Lexi's head to her chest. He gently brushed the girl's long hair. Lexi's body shook instantly. The girl hiccups.

"The miss is heavy. The only cure of that longing is to meet the person directly. Then, where should I go to see him?" Watered the girl with such a heart-wrenching voice.

"If you meet him, what will you say?"

"Free me up."

The deg!